President of the Republic of Panama. Ramon Maximiliano Valdes Arce served as president of Panama from October 1, 1916 until his death of a heart attack. He completed his law degree in Cartagena and his doctorate of law and political sciences in Bogota. Previous to Panama's independence from Colombia, he served as Mayor of Colon (1895), Minister of Education and Deputy Minister of Finance for the Department of Panama, and the Department of Panama's representative to the Colombian Assembly. Later, he served as Minister of Government (1908) during the de Obaldia administration, Representative to the International Court of Arbitration at the Hague (1912), and Minister to the United States (1912-16). His path to the presidency was complicated by a fracture within the Liberal Party, wherein his nomination was supported by President Belisario Porras but the nomination of Rodolfo Chiari was supported by former President Carlos Mendoza. The Chiaristas requested electoral monitors from the U.S., but Porras refused. Chiari ultimately withdrew to prevent civil unrest. During his short presidency, Valdes opened the first electrical power plant in Penonome, established the National Red Cross, and founded the School of Law and National Policies. When World War I emerged, as a sign of solidarity with the U.S., he declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1917. The National Assembly authorized him to appropriate funds in order to create a military or increase police forces. His sudden death was not without controversy. There were suspicions of assassination by poisoning, but both Canal Zone and Panamanian physicians (including Dr. Augusto S. Boyd) confirmed the natural cause. Valdes married Diana Dutary Perez in 1900, with whom he had 3 daughters. (bio by: BluGraver)